Three of Hearts (16 page)

Confused over the odd questions, Mae wondered what was going on. “I don’t know what time I’ll be home, why?”

“Well, uh, I was, uh, wondering if you would give us a lift to school again, you know in your Camaro tomorrow,” Conner said, pleased with his on the spot cover up.

Though she couldn’t place it, Conner’s explanation just didn’t sit right. Mae said “I have to be at the hospital around eight, so driving you guys, I’m assuming you Michael, will want a lift as well, shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Cool, you’re the best Mae.”

Mae said goodbye to the boys and hurried up to her apartment. She needed to get some laundry and other house cleaning things done, before she met Robyn.

Two hours later Mae was dressed in her jeans, purple sleeveless blouse with her black wedge flip flops, when she walked out onto the deck.

Seth and the kids, including Michael, were finishing up a meal of tacos with all the fixings when she joined them.

“Looks like I missed quite the fiesta” she observed as she leaned over, giving Megan a quick kiss on her forehead.

“Mae, Mae, can we have another tea party, pretty please?” Megan pleaded.

“Not tonight, sweetie, but maybe on Saturday. I’m meeting your Auntie Robyn at Cal’s.”

“Hey, what’s this about a tea party, I thought we were going to go to the movies?” Seth asked with exaggerated curiosity.

When Megan agreed that was a better idea, Seth explained, that he told Aidan and Megan that he would take them to see the new animated movie.

“That sounds like fun.” Mae said as she rubbed Seth’s back, as he without notice rolled his eyes.

Seth instructed the kids to bring all the dishes into the house and get ready to go. When they were alone he pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her deeply on the mouth.

“So how come you didn’t come out and kiss me?” Seth asked with masculine nosiness.

“I wasn’t sure if you were ready for PDA’s in front of the kids.” Mae said as she rubbed small circles over his chest.

“I’m ok with it, if you are. Besides there won’t be any excuse now that I can’t just grab you and do wicked things to you.” Seth said as he tickled her midsection.

Mae squealed in delight and jumped quickly off Seth’s lap. He followed her up and put his hands at her waist. She leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him softly.

“Next time I’ll be sure to lay one on you, in front of your kids”

“Do that.” Seth said and leaned down and kissed her once again.

“So I saw Dylan earlier today,” Mae said, wanting to tell Seth about her motorcycle ride.

“Oh, yeah, what was the rascal doing?” Seth asked as he played with her loose hair.

“He showed me his bike and took me out for a little spin. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Mae said, recalling with pleasure the feeling of freedom.

Warmed by the idea of Mae bonding with his friends, Seth smiled and said, “I’m glad, honey, just don’t let him talk you into it too often.”

“Why?” Mae asked wondering what he meant

“Hamden is a small town, I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea that you’re the woman of a dirty no good scoundrel,” Seth jested.

Laughing, she whispered against his lips, “I’ll make sure you’re the only scoundrel that people get the wrong idea about.”

Enjoying their easy banter, “Make sure of it.” He gave her a hard kiss, and slap on her full ass.

Aidan and Megan came out, just as Mae was rubbing her bottom.

“Everything ok Mae, did Daddy spank you?” Megan asked full of concern

Laughing, but inclined by the thought, Mae looked down at Megan and said “no he didn’t spank me, we were just playing.”

And to cast off into the new tier of their relationship, Mae put her arm around Seth’s waist and graciously tipped her head up to accept the kiss he gave her.

Aidan looked as if it wasn’t anything new to see Seth kissing Mae and Megan looked as if she was just told she won a pony.

Conner and Michael came out of the house just then; Conner said “Have fun, Dad.” And started down the stairs.

“Hey Conner, remember my rules, no one but you and Michael around and in the house and if you need me call me on my cell.”

Waving without looking back, Conner walked down the remaining steps and he and Michael headed out to the dock.

Shaking his head at his eldest son’s attitude, Seth kissed Mae and headed out with the kids.

ELEVEN

Mae drove up to Cal’s and parked the Camaro next to a Lexus SUV. The building reminded her of an old general store. The clapboard was faded white and had a front porch that was adorned with rocking chairs of all different shapes and sizes. There was even one of those little bells that rang every time the door was opened.

She checked her lip gloss in the rearview mirror and walked up the front porch. Once she stepped into the pub she observed the actual bar was tucked into the corner, but had plenty of seating: about 30 tables of different heights and sizes around a sunken dance floor. A stage in the opposite corner of the bar housed a full band set up. Through a wide arch Mae could see a billiard room.

Mae’s eyes scanned the room, looking for Robyn, when she saw two hands waving frantically. It was Robyn’s friend Kathy.

Mae walked over and took the seat opposite Kathy at a high round table.

“Hi Mae, how are you? Any trouble finding the place?”

“No not at all. How are you Kathy?”

Kathy was a sweet, kind girl. Mae guessed her age to be that of Robyn’s, early to mid-twenties. Her ash blonde hair was cut in a pageboy bob with blunt bangs. Her thin body was draped in a strapless cotton dress matched with red sequined flip flops.

“I’m great thanks. Robyn will be along shortly, something about not being able to find her car keys.” Kathy explained.

Just then a young man dressed in green t-shirt with a yellow logo reading ‘Cal’s Pub and Eatery’, came over placed a bowl of popcorn on the table, and asked Mae what should would like to drink.

“What are you drinking Kathy?” Mae asked, looking at the hurricane glass with an orange garnish.

“This is a Hawaiian Seabreeze, it is yummy!” Kathy answered as she took a long sip from the straw.

“I’ll have the same.”

When the waiter left, Kathy and Mae talked about the growing crowd. Kathy explained that there was going to be a band playing later and they usually filled the house.

Robyn walked in shortly after Mae’s drink arrived. She apologized for being late and took a seat at the table.

Mae admired how lovely Robyn looked. Her white jeans looked fabulous with the teal tank top with matching sandals. Her hair was in a wispy updo that looked fun and sexy.

Cal’s was really getting packed now. There weren’t many available tables.

Mae, Robyn and Kathy ordered another round of Hawaiian Seabreezes and an order of potato skins and nachos.

The conversation flowed from Mae’s job at the hospital to Kathy’s job at the local Chevy dealership. Robyn spoke of the wedding and honeymoon preparations. Their table was quickly being filled with emptied hurricane glasses. And Mae was having such a good time just talking, that she didn’t notice the two men that walked up to their table.

“Having a good time ladies?” said the man on the right. His tall lanky body was dressed casually enough in a t shirt and jeans, and his head was covered with a backward, faded Red Sox hat. He had a freckled complexion, but a kind smile.

His friend slowly made his way around Mae to take the seat between her and Robyn. His dark hair was styled in a spikey, run-your-fingers-thru-your-hair-with-gel way that complimented his dark eyes. His days growth covered his face in a rugged way. He placed his beer bottle on the table and made himself comfortable.

“Doing fine, thanks” Robyn answered sassily. “How about you?”

“With beer in hand and such a fine array of beautiful woman to look at, how could it not be good?” Came from the freckled one.

He introduced himself as Ty Greene and his friend as Billy Hawkins and asked if he could buy them a round of drinks. He was mainly focusing on Robyn but he did speak to the table at large.

As Ty, Robyn and Kathy talked about the Red Sox game playing on the majority of TVs in the pub, Billy said to Mae “you like baseball?”

“Baseball is ok, but I prefer football, the Patriots, naturally.” Mae smiled and noticed Billy smiled as well.

“Yeah, baseball is a little boring in my opinion; football is much more of a sport.” Billy said as they started in on a detailed debate of the official review rule in football and how some specific popular players use dirty tactics to play.

Mae was enjoying the conversation and realized Robyn was looking at her more often than not.

Since the place was packed now, it was a while since they saw the waiter, so Ty and Billy decided to go to the bar to order a round of drinks.

When the left, Kathy voiced that she loved getting hit on. She made sure to fluff her hair and check her lip gloss in her small compact mirror. Robyn agreed but felt the need to all of a sudden become left handed every time she picked up her drink.

“So Mae, you enjoying talking and flirting with Billy?” Robyn asked teasingly.

“I’m not flirting!” Mae said with strong conviction.

Laughing, Kathy said, “if it looks like flirting and sounds like flirting, it’s flirting!”

Robyn and Kathy continued to laugh especially considering their intake of liquor.

Not wanting Robyn and Kathy to get the wrong idea, Mae felt suddenly embarrassed. Robyn noting the despairing looking on Mae’s face said “Mae, don’t worry about it. You’re a hot girl; I can imagine this happens to you everywhere you go. There is nothing on your left ring finger, have fun. Enjoy being spoiled by a man, especially if he is buying the drinks.” Giggling she added, “Besides my brother needs to know he can’t be an ass because there is a line waiting behind him”

Mae smiled at the last bit and Robyn and Kathy both shook their heads agreeing that Mae was entitled to a good time and innocent flirtation was just a girl’s god given right.

Ty and Billy returned then with three hurricane glasses and two bottles of beer.

The table as a group talked about the regions sport teams and each person’s individual likes and dislikes of said teams and sports.

The band had taken the stage at this point and the dance floor was starting to crowd.

A guitar riff of an old time favorite spared a boisterous, lively round of crowd cheers and cat calls. As the band started playing, Mae just couldn’t help but dance in her seat.

Robyn hoped down from the seat and pulled Mae out of hers and worked their way out onto the dance floor. Kathy followed behind them and they danced to the beat. They stayed close in a small circle due to the congestion on the floor. By the time they returned to their table when the song ended, they were all laughing and hot from the exertion of dancing.

Ty and Billy, who now stood as if protecting Mae and Kathy from being knocked into from the growing crowd, verbalized what a good looking show they put on when dancing.

May tipped back her hurricane glass to get the remainder of the cocktail out, feeling a little buzzed. She decided now was a good time to switch to water.

Billy offered to go get her another round when Mae answered, “I’m good on the drink, I’ll just get water; in fact I’ll go up to the bar and order it.” Turning to the table she asked if anyone needed a refill, Robyn followed her and ordered water while Kathy went for a diet coke.

Mae walked to the bar and found Billy following her. Mae was waiting for an area to open up, when Billy, grabbed her by her hand and walked her around to the other side where a vacancy was. Mae hopped up onto the open seat and Billy put one hand on the back of her chair and his other on the bar next to her.

Not knowing what to say to him, Mae just sat there in silence.

“So Mae, what is it going to take to get you to dance with me?” Billy asked, drinking her in with those dark eyes.

“I don’t know.” Was all Mae could think to say.

The bartender came over and took her order, he quickly filled it and Mae was glad that Billy was there to help carry all the glasses through the crowd. They reached the table and found Robyn on the dance floor with Ty. Kathy was trying to talk on her phone and when she saw Mae return, she motioned that she was going outside to talk. Mae sat down at the table and checked her own phone. There were no messages or missed calls. She wondered what Seth was doing. Billy interrupted her thoughts, and asked her if she wanted to go out to the dance floor with him, as the band began playing a slower tune.

Mae agreed and Billy took her hand and pulled her out onto the floor. Mae immediately noticed that her hand in his just didn’t feel right. They were close to where Robyn and Ty were, and Mae noticed that Robyn was being sure to leave plenty of space between her and Ty’s body.

As the band shifted to a slow beat, Billy pulled Mae into an embrace. Mae had to hand it to him, he was a great dancer. She was actually enjoying herself until the song ended, and Billy leaned down for a kiss. She immediately moved her head and used her hands to push at his chest.

Mae looked at him and said, “Sorry Billy, but I thought this was just a dance.”

Billy looked at her and smiled, trying to hide the hurt of her rejection. He walked her back to table and made a hasty retreat.

Kathy piped up the moment he left “I thought you were going to clock him.”

Mae raised her eyebrows and said “No, just didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.” Mae looked around and noticed Robyn was missing, “Where’s Robyn?”

Kathy looked around and said, “I don’t know, she was just out on the dance floor.”

Just as Mae and Kathy were starting to get concerned, when Robyn came waltzing over and sat down.

“Where have you been?” Kathy scolded.

“Oh sorry, after I told Ty where he could shove his roaming hands, I made a quick dash off to the ladies room.”

Kathy made a
tsk
tsk
sound and chastised, “You know the girl code, you don’t make any moves without letting another girl know where you are.”